From the architects who raised the pyramids of Kemet to the fashionable engineers guiding rockets into area, Black individuals have all the time been on the forefront of science, know-how, engineering and math (STEM). But, too typically, their contributions are erased or missed.
In Houston—a world hub for power, innovation and aerospace—Black excellence in STEM continues to thrive. These 10 leaders are blazing new trails, empowering younger minds and shaping town’s future by way of innovation, training and entrepreneurship. Their work displays the brilliance, resilience and creativity which have all the time outlined our individuals’s relationship with science and know-how.
1. Dr. Reagan Flowers — Founding father of C-STEM
Dr. Reagan Flowers is a powerhouse in STEM training and the founding father of C-STEM (Communication, Science, Know-how, Engineering, and Arithmetic), a nationally acknowledged nonprofit. By hands-on studying, robotics competitions and trainer coaching, Flowers has empowered hundreds of scholars—significantly these from underserved communities—to see themselves as future scientists and innovators. Her work has earned her recognition from the White Home and world STEM organizations alike.
2. Loretta Williams Gurnell — Founding father of SUPERGirls Shine Basis
Loretta Williams Gurnell is the dynamic founding father of SUPERGirls Shine Basis, which creates alternatives for women of shade in STEM, management and entrepreneurship. Her packages mix mentorship, profession readiness and real-world studying experiences. Gurnell’s mission is straightforward but profound: assist younger girls uncover their “superpowers” and use them to uplift their communities.
3. Dr. Bernard Harris — CEO of NMSI & Former NASA Astronaut
With regards to “firsts,” Dr. Bernard Harris has a couple of underneath his belt—most notably as the primary African American to stroll in area. At this time, he leads the Nationwide Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), serving to college students throughout the nation entry world-class STEM training. A doctor, astronaut and entrepreneur, Harris’s profession reminds us that the sky isn’t the restrict—it’s only the start.
4. Jacqueline Ekeoba — Director of STEM RISE Instruction
At STEM RISE, Jacqueline Ekeoba helps redefine what STEM training appears like for Houston’s youth. As director of instruction, she focuses on equitable entry to hands-on science and engineering experiences, significantly for Black and Brown college students. Ekeoba’s management has helped bridge the hole between classroom studying and real-world innovation.
5. Saki Milton — Founding father of The GEMS Camp
In 2010, STEM educator Saki Milton launched The GEMS Camp, brief for Ladies enthusiastic about Engineering, Math and Science. Her imaginative and prescient? Empower women of shade by way of rigorous STEM studying experiences coupled with private growth. What started as a summer time camp has blossomed right into a thriving mentorship and management community that continues to glitter throughout Houston and past.
6. Marcus Glenn — Program Developer, Black United Fund of Texas
Marcus Glenn brings a ardour for group empowerment to his work on the Black United Fund of Texas, the place he develops packages centered on STEM entry and youth development. By connecting know-how training to group uplift, Glenn ensures that innovation stays a instrument for liberation, not exclusion.
7. LaTanya Brooks — Founder & CEO, Develop with STEM
As founding father of Develop with STEM, LaTanya Brooks helps college students domesticate curiosity and important considering from an early age. Her group’s interactive packages emphasize creativity, literacy and hands-on exploration, particularly for women and college students of shade. Brooks’ mix of training and empowerment proves that STEM may be each enjoyable and foundational.
8. William Johnson Jr. — CEO, W. Johnson Consulting
A mechanical engineer turned entrepreneur, William Johnson Jr. leads W. Johnson Consulting, the place he offers strategic steering to corporations in engineering, power and building. His work exemplifies how technical experience and enterprise acumen can merge to create alternatives for each innovation and group growth.
9. Dr. Omonike Olaleye — Senior Affiliate VP for Analysis & Innovation, TSU
Dr. Omonike Olaleye, PhD, stands on the chopping fringe of biomedical analysis. At Texas Southern College, she serves because the Senior Affiliate Vice President for Analysis & Innovation and the principal investigator for the college’s Middle for Biomedical and Minority Well being Analysis (CBMHR). Her work advances each scientific discovery and fairness in healthcare analysis.
10. Vanessa Wyche — Director, NASA’s Johnson House Middle
A real trailblazer, Vanessa Wyche made historical past as the primary Black girl to function Director of NASA’s Johnson House Middle. Overseeing one of the iconic services in human area exploration, Wyche leads with imaginative and prescient, emphasizing inclusion, collaboration and innovation. Her management conjures up not solely Houston however the whole world.
